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Pay attention to Minnesota buffer rule

The vice president of American Farm Bureau says farmers everywhere should be paying attention to Minnesota’s buffer law.

Scott VanderWal was one of several panelists discussing water quality issues during FarmFest in southern Minnesota Wednesday.

Being from neighboring South Dakota, he says the buffer law has been on his radar since it was proposed more than a year ago.

“I guess the bottom-line is to make sure that we’re responsible with our resources and make sure we don’t farm right up to the edge of a stream to where there’s water running into it.”

VanderWal acknowledges the buffer rule is controversial, but tells Brownfield farmers should look at it as an opportunity.

“If we can keep our noses clean and take a consumer that doesn’t know anything about agriculture, and take them out to our field or livestock pen (to) show them what we’re actually doing and help them understand why we do those things…then we’re going to be in good shape.”

The law went into effect following the 2015 legislative session, requiring vegetative buffers of up to 50 feet around all public waters.

Minnesota legislators amended aspects of the rule this year to clarify it.